Spurs started the second period positively and might have gone in front in the 50th minute had Philippe Senderos not produced a vital interception to deny an unmarked Defoe.

Fulham took the lead in the 56th minute against the run of play courtesy of Ashkan Dejagah's first goal for the club, the Iranian international firing Berbatov's nod-on into the bottom corner following sloppy defending from Spurs.

Andre Villas-Boas's side bagged the equaliser they deserved in the 73rd minute through Vlad Chiriches, the Romanian beating Stekelenburg with a clean half-volley into the bottom corner.

There were chances for both sides in the latter stages, but Lewis Holtby's first Premier League goal for Spurs won it for the visitors.

The Germany midfielder drifted in from the right flank and thumped a worthy winner into the top corner, leaving Stekelenburg stranded.